Shaving cream composition

ABSTRACT

A shaving cream composition packaged in a pressurized container having a dispensing valve which forms a lubricious lather upon discharge therefrom and which consists essentially of by weight 4 to 15 percent of a mixture of sodium and potassium stearate, 12 to 25 percent of liquid oily material selected from the group consisting of mineral oil having a Saybolt viscosity of 75 to 100 seconds at 100* F., cod liver oil, vegetable oils, alkyl esters of C12 - C18 fatty acids, and mixtures thereof as a primary emollient, 1 to 5 percent of C10 - C16 fatty acid alkylolamide as a secondary emollient, the weight ratio of the oil material to alkylolamide being in the range of about 5:1 to about 25:1, 5 to 15 percent of chlorofluorinated C1 - C2 hydrocarbon propellant and water.

mite tates atent [1 1 McLaughlin Dec. 3, 1974 l SHAVKNG CREAM COMPOSITIUN Primary Examiner-Sam Rosen [75] Inventor. fiujnes Ell. McLaughlin, Ridgefield, Attorney, Agent, or B. Clarke [73] Assignee: Carter-Wallace, lnc., New York, [57] ABSTR A shaving cream composition packaged in a pressur- [22] Filed May 1973 ized container having a dispensing valve which forms a [21] Appl. No.: 356,614 lubricious lather upon discharge therefrom and which consists essentially of by weight 4 to 15 percent of a mixture of sodium and potassium stearate, 12 to 25 8i. 424621123413 percent of liquid Oily material Selected from the group [58] Fie'nd 424/47 73 consisting of mineral oil having a Saybolt viscosity of 75 to 100 seconds at 100F., cod liver oil, vegetable oils, alkyl esters of C C fatty acids, and mixtures [56] References Cited thereof as a primary emollient, l to 5 percent of C 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS C fatty acid alkylolamide as a secondary emollient, 2,655,480 10/1953 Spitzer et al 424/73 the weight ratio of the oil material to alkylolamide 2,908,650 10/1959 F ne I 424/47 being in the range of about 5:1 to about 25:1, 5 to 15 3-235457 Laden 424/73 percent of chlorofluorinated C C hydrocarbon pro- 3,574,l l8 4/197! Baker 424/73 pellant and water.

8 Claims, N0 Drawings SHAVING CREAM COMPOSITION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION propellant, stearate soap, water and a unique combina-,

tion of liquid oily material and fatty acid alkylolamide.

While aerosol shaving creams have been popular for the past twenty years, these compositions have been the subject of continuing research in order to improve their characteristics, particularly foam characteristics, and overcome consumer dissatisfactions. For example, much effort has been expended on improving the lubricating properties of the lathers so as to protect the face and speed the shaving operation. In the course of these efforts, a wide variety of additives for the shaving cream compositions have been proposed and tested. For instance, polysiloxanes have been added in amounts of up to 5 percent by weight to enhance lubricity. Similarly, up to 5 percent of water-soluble polymeric materials such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylamide, carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene oxide, and copolymers of acrylic acid and polyallyl sucrose have been employed for the same purpose. Additionally, oily materials such as lanolin, lanolin fractions, petrolatum, mineral oil, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, etc. have been added to shaving creams in varying amounts from about 0.5 to 8 or 10 percent by weight for a variety of reasons including lubrication. However, lack of consumer dedication to any specific aerosol lather product and the tendency of the consumer to try new products suggests that consumers remain somewhat dissatisfied with the aerosol lathers presently available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present foaming shaving cream composition which is packaged in a pressure container having a dispensing valve yields a lather or foam having improved lubricating properties. Such properties appear to be due to the employment of a unique combination of emollients in a somewhat higher concentration than proposed heretofore in a specific type of formulation. The fact that such proportions of emollients could be included in the shaving cream containing alkali metal soap without substantial adverse effects on foam rigidity and stability was surprising in view of the known defoaming effects of oily materials on soap.

The inventive shaving cream compositions are packaged in a pressure container having a dispensing valve and consist essentially of 4 to percent by weight of a water-soluble soap selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium stearate and mixtures thereof; about 12 to percent by weight of a liquid, waterimmiscible oily material having skin lubricating or emollient properties; about 1 to 5 percent by weight of a C C fatty acid monoethanolamide or diethanolamide as a supplemental emollient, the weight ratio of said oily material to alkylolamide being in the range of about 5:1 to about 25:1; about 40 to 78 percent by weight of water; and about 5 to 15 percent by weight of a liquefied, normally gaseous chlorofluorinated C C hydrocarbon propellant, said propellant being effective to provide a pressure in the range of about 30 to p.s.i.g. at 70F. Preferred compositions include in addition up to 8 percent by weight of glycerine or propylene glycol humectant and up to 5 percent by weight of a water-soluble sodium, potassium or triethanolammonium cocoate soap.

These inventive shaving creams when dispensed from the aerosol container provide a stable, rigid foam which persists throughout the shaving operation. This foam exhibits desired wetting action while at the same time lubricates the face so that minimal razor drag is noted. Additionally, the cream serves to soften the skin and leaves the face smooth and in non-irritated condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The essential foaming and wetting agent used in these shaving cream compositions is a water-soluble soap selected from the group consisting of sodium and potassium stearate and mixtures thereof. The term stearate as used herein refers to the salt of commerical stearic acid which is actually a mixture consisting primarily of stearic and palmitic acids as well as the salt of a chemically pure stearic acid. The preferred soap is a mixture of potassium and sodium stearates wherein the weight ratio of potassium stearate to sodium stearate is in the range of 2:1 to 7:1, and most preferably at least about 3.521. This preferred soap mixture provides a rich, stable lather which does not collapse readily after discharge from the container.

Triethanolammonium stearate may be substituted for either sodium and/or potassium stearate in an amount of up to 50 percent by weight of the total stearate con centration in the shaving cream compositions. It is preferred, however, that the triethanolamine stearate be less than one third of the total stearate content of the complete cream.

These stearate soaps may be prepared in accordance with well-known methods by neutralizing stearic acid with potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, or triethanolamine and introduced into the composition in the neutralized form. Alternatively, the stearates may be prepared in situ by adding appropriate amounts of stearic acid and one or more of the foregoing neutralizing agents to the aqueous medium. The latter method is preferred in making the inventive compositions.

The amount of stearate soap employed in the shaving cream compositions generally ranges from 4 to about 15 percent by weight, and preferably from about 6 to about 10 percent by weight.

Enhanced effects are achieved when the stearate soap is supplemented by a minor amount of a watersoluble soap of coconut fatty acids (a mixture of C C fatty acids containing a major proportion of C C fatty acids). Like the stearate soaps, the cocoate soap may be potassium, sodium or triethanolammonium cocoate or a mixture thereof, with the mixture of potassium and sodium cocoate in a weight ratio of 2:1 to 7:1 being preferred. The proportion of cocoate soap in the inventive compositions may range from 0 to 5 percent by weight, with from 0.2 to about 3 percent by weight being preferred.

The essential primary emollient ingredient in the inventive compositions comprises at least one liquid, water-immiscible oily material having skin lubricating properties. While any liquid oily material having skin lubricating or emollient properties may be employed, this material generally will be selected from the group consisting of mineral oils having a Saybolt viscosity of 65 100 seconds at 100F., cod liver oil, vegetable oil, alkyl esters of C C fatty acids which contain from to 22 total carbon atoms in the molecule, and mixtures thereof. Among the suitable oily materials are mineral oils having a Saybolt viscosity of 75 100 seconds at lOOF., castor oil, olive oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, almond oil, coconut oil, palm oil, sesame oil, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, and the like. If highly unsaturatedtriglyceride oils such as safflower oil are used, an antioxidant compound also is preferably included in the composition to prevent rancidity. The preferred oily material is the mineral oil of Saybolt viscosity of 75 100 seconds and this material can be used either alone or in admixture with a vegetable oil or an isopropyl fatty acid ester.

As set forth above, the proportion of oil in the described shaving cream compositions ranges from 12 to about 25 percent by weight, with proportions of 13 to 17 percent by weight being preferred. Amounts of primary oily material very much less than about 12 percent by weight are not employed because the user does not perceive the desired lubricating or emollient effect.

In order to achieve the desired beneficial lubricating properties, it is preferred that the foregoing oily material be used in conjunction with a supplemental emollient selected from the group consisting of C C fatty acid monoethanolamide and/or diethanolamide. Such fatty acid alkylolamides are well known in the detergent industry and are condensation products of fatty acid and the desired alkylolamide. Such products may consist of either about 70 percent fatty acid alkylolamide or about 90 percent fatty acid alkylolamide depending upon the particular condensation process chosen, with the 90 percent material being most satisfactory. The fatty acid diethanolamides are preferred, with the C C fatty acid diethanolamides being most preferred.

The proportion of fatty acid alkylolamide supplemental emollient will generally vary from about 1 to 5 percent by weight of the composition. Preferred fatty acid alkylolamide concentrations are 1.5 to 3 percent by weight. Since the fatty acid alkylolamides supplement the emollient action of the primary oily material, the proportion thereof should be selected to provide a weight ratio of oily material to fatty acid alkylolamide of about 5:1 to 25:1, preferably about 5:1 to 13:1. Such ratios achieve the desired balance of foam stability, lubricity and wetting properties.

The propellant used in the inventive compositions can be any liquefied, normally gaseous, hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon or mixture thereof which is effective to provide a pressure in the range of about to 70 p.s.i.g;, preferably to 55 p.s.i.g., in the ultimate container. The well known chlorofluorinated C C hydrocarbons are suitable propellants because they are odorless, nontoxic and exhibit minimal skin irritation tendencies. The propellant may also be formed of a mixture of two or more such compounds. Suitable propellants include dichlorodifluoromethane (CCl F), dichlorotetrafluoroethane (CClF CClF monochloropentafluoroethane (CClF CF dichloromonofluoromethane (CHCl F monochlorodi- V fluoromethane (CHClF monochlorodifluoroethane reducing effects of the oily material such as mineral oil,

the proportion of propellant or propellant mixture can be readily ascertained by calculation.

The aqueous solvent medium of the compositions of this invention is usually water. Tap water, distilled water and deionized water have been found to possess adequate solubility for the soap and the required dispersibility for the propellant. In general, however, up to about 5 percent by weight of C C monohydric alcohol such as ethanol or isopropanol may be admixed with the water so long as the amount of alcohol does not adversely affect the foaming properties of the shaving cream. In general, the amount of aqueous solvent employed will be about 40 to 78 percent by weight of the composition.

While not required, it is advantageous to include up to 8 percent by weight, preferably 3 to 6 percent by weight, of glycerine or propylene glycol humectant in the shaving cream compositions. In addition, it is usually preferred to include from about 0.3 to 3 percent by weight of C C fatty acid, e.g., coconut fatty acid or stearic acid, in the shaving cream product for its bubble modifying characteristics.

Additional ingredients which are compatible with the described shaving cream compositions can also be added to modify or enhance the properties thereof as desired. For example, minor proportions of 0.5 to 3 percent by weight of water-soluble synthetic anionic,

.amphoteric or nonionic wetting agents such as lauryl sulfate salts, higher alkyl substituted imidazolinium salts, and ethoxylated fatty acid sorbitan esters or ethoxylated fatty alcohols can be included to further modify lather characteristics. Also, up to 1 percent by weight of various adjuvants such as water-soluble and water-insoluble germicides, perfumes, coloring agents, polymeric materials such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, sequestering agents, menthol, and corrosion inhibitors such as silicates, phosphates, etc. may be incorporated in the compositions.

The novel shaving cream compositions disclosed herein are adapted for use in conventional pressure containers or aerosol dispensers now in commerical use. Such containers are equipped with a manually operated discharge valve. Upon operation of this valve, the contents emerge as a coherent foam having a sufficient lather density and rigidity to enable the user to apply it to the face without substantial breakdown.

The inventive compositions can be prepared in any suitable manner. For example, one satisfactory manner consists of admixing the soap, oily material, alkylolamide and any other desired ingredients with water and thereafter adding the resultant mixture to the pressure container which is subsequently sealed with a sealing means including a discharge valve. Thereafter, the container and contents may be chilled and the propellant under pressure is admitted through the valve. Alternatively, the aqueous mixture may be chilled prior to being added to the container.

The following specific examples are set forth in order to more fully define the inventive compositions. Such examples are illustrative only and are not intended as limitations of this invention. In the examples, all parts and percentages are on a weight basis unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLE 1 A preferred lubricious shaving cream has the following composition.

% by Weight Potassium stearate 5.2 Sodium stearate 1.1 1 Laurie acid diethanolamide 1.6 Mineral oil (Saybolt viscosity of 75-100 seconds at 100F.) 20 Stearic acid 0.14 Coconut fatty acid 0.68 Glycerine 3.2 Polyvinylpyrrolidone (Grade K-30) 0.12 Perfume 0.37 Water 57.58 Propellant" Dichlorodifluuromethane The foregoing shaving cream composition is prepared by admixing 6.12 parts of stearic acid, 1.60 parts of lauric acid diethanolamide, 20 parts of mineral oil and 0.68 parts of coconut fatty acids at a temperature of 167 176F. and thereafter adding thereto with agi- EXAMPLE 2v Another satisfactory shaving cream having good lubricity characteristics is prepared according to the pro cedure of example 1 and has the following composition.

This composition when dispensed from a valved, pressure container yields a firm, form-retaining foam with highly satisfactory lubricating and wetting properties. The foam discharges from the container smoothly and without sputtering. When used in ordinary fashion, shaving takes place with no perceivable razor drag and without a burning or tingling sensation in the facial area.

EXAMPLES 3 6 Other suitable lubricious shaving creams are tabulated in Table A below.

Table A by Weight Ex. 3 x 4 Ex Ex. 6

' Potassium stearate 3.4 3.4 6.8 3.4 Sodium stearate 0.9 0.9 1.8 0.9 Potassium-sodium (315:1)

cocoate 0.17 0.17 0.33 0.17 Lauric acid diethanolamide 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 Coconut fatty acids 0.28 0128 0.55 0.28 Glycerine 2.0 2.0 4.0 2.0

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (K-30) 0.08 0.08 0.15 0.08 Mineral oil (Saybolt viscosity of 75-100 seconds at 100F.) l2 l5 12 20 Water 70.17 67.17 62.27 62.17 Propellant (CCl- F l0 10 10 10 100.0 100.0 100.00 100.00 Ratio of oily material to fatty acid diethanolamide 12:1 15:1 20:1 6:1

tation a mixture of 0.12 parts of polyvinylpyrrolidone, When the foregoing creams are dispensed from a 3.2 parts of glycerine, 0.9 parts of potassium hydroxide and 0.2 parts of sodium hydroxide in 57.58 parts of water at a temperature of 167 176F. The resultant mixture is cooled to about 120F. with agitation where the perfume is added and the perfumed product is further cooled to 86F. The resultant aqueous phase isfilled into a pressure container which is sealed with a valved closure assembly and thereafter 10 parts of the chilled propellant under pressure are added through the valve; The ratio of oily material to lauric acid diethanolamide is about 12.511.

When this shaving cream is used in the conventional manner, users observe that a close, smooth shave is obtained with minimal razor drag and the facial skin feels softened and moisturized after shaving.

pressurized container in the usual manner, all of the foregoing compositions yield a firm, coherent foam having good stability and a desirable ltibricious slip during shaving.

EXAMPLE 7 to form a soap solution which is chilled to about F.

prior to filling into an aerosol container. Thereafter Perfume 0.4

Water 54.6

Propellanv 10 85 parts by weight of dichlorodifluoromethane and 15 parts by weight of dichlorotetrafluoroethane the container is closed and the propellant is added through the valve. Upon dispensing, a stable, rigid foam having lubricious properties is formed.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other modifications and variations of the invention can be made and various equivalents substituted therein without departing from the principles disclosed.

What is claimed is:

l. A foaming shaving cream composition packaged in a pressure container having a dispensing valve, said composition consisting essentially of 4 to 15 percent by weight of a mixture of water-soluble potassium and sodium stearates wherein the weight ratio of potassium stearate to sodium stearate is in the range of 2:1 to 7:1; to percent by weight of a water-soluble soap selected from thegroup consisting of sodium, potassium and triethanol ammonium cocoates and mixtures thereof; about 12 to 25 percent by weight of a liquid, water-immiscible oily material having skin lubricating oremollient properties and being selected from the ble oils,alkyl esters of C C fatty acids and mixtures thereof; about 1 to 5 percent by weight of a C C group consisting of mineral oil having a Saybolt viscosy of 75 to l o s eq a 00? dliy r. 9 m;

fatty acid monoethanolamide or diethanolamide as a supplemental emollient, the weight ratio of said oily material to alkylolamide being in the range of about 5:1

to 25:1; 0 to 8 percent by weight of a humectant selected from the group consisting of glycerine and propylene glycol; about 40 to 78 .percent by weight of water; and about 5 to 15 percent by weight of a liquefied, normally gaseous chlorofluorinated C C hydrocarbon propellant, said propellant being effective to provide a pressure in the range of about 30 to p.s.i.g. at 70F.

2. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 1 wherein said oily material is said mineral oil.

3. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 2 wherein said supplemental emollient is said fatty acid diethanolamide.

4. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 1 wherein said weight ratio of potassium soap to sodium soap is at least about 3.5: l said oily material is a mineral oil having a Saybolt viscosity of to seconds at 100F., said supplemental emollient is said fatty acid diethanolamide in an amount of about 1.5 to 3 percent by weight, and said humectant is glycerine in an amount of about 3 to 6 percent by weight.

5. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 4 wherein said propellant is CCl F or a mixture of CClF CClF and CCl F 6. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 4 which further includes from about 0.3 to 3 percent by weight of C C fatty acid.

7. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cocoate soap is present in an amount of about 0.2 to 3 percent by'weight.

8. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 5 wherein said mineral oil is present in an amount of about 13 to 17 percent by weight. 

1. A FOAMING SHAVING CREAM COMPOSITION PACKAGED IN A PRESSURE CONTAINER HAVING A DISPENSING VALVE SAID COMPOSITION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF 4 TO 15 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF A MIXTURE OF WATER-SOLUBLE POTASSIUM AND SODIUM STERATES WHEREIN THE WEIGHT RATIO OF POTASSIUM AND SODIUM STERATES WHEREIN THE RANGE OF 2:1 TO 7:1; 0 TO 5 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF A WATER-SOLUBLE SOAP SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SODIUM, POTASSIUM AND TRIETHANOL AMMONIUM COCOATES AND MIXTURES THEREOF; ABOUT 12 TO 25 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF A LIQUID, WATER-IMMISCIBLE OILY MATERIAL HAVING SKIN LUBRICATING OR EMOLLIENT PROPERTIES AND BEING SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF MINERAL OIL HAVING A SAYBOLT VISCOSITY OF 75 TO 100 SECONDS AT 100:F,. CODE LIVER OIL, VEGETABLE OILS ALKYL ESTERS OF C12-C18 FATTY ACIDS AND MIXTURES THEREOF; ABOUT 1 TO 5 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF A C10-C16 FATTY ACID MONOETHANOLAMIDE OR DIETHANOLAMIDE AS A SUPPLEMENTAL EMOLLIENT, THE WEIGHT RATIO OF SAID OILY MATERIAL TO ALKYLOLAMIDE BEING IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 5:1 TO 25:1; 0 TO 8 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF A HUMECTANT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF GLYCERINE AND PROPYLENE GLYCOL; ABOUT 40 TO 78 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF WATER; AND ABOUT 5 TO 15 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF A LIQUEFIED, NORMALLY GASEOUS CHLOROFLUORINATED C1 -C2 HYDROCARBON PROPELLANT, SAID PROPELLANT BEING EFFECTIVE TO PROVIDE A PRESSURE IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 30 TO 70 P.S.I.G AT 70*F.
 2. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 1 wherein said oily material is said mineral oil.
 3. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 2 wherein said supplemental emollient is said fatty acid diethanolamide.
 4. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 1 wherein said weight ratio of potassium soap to sodium soap is at least about 3.5:1, said oily material is a mineral oil having a Saybolt viscosity of 75 to 100 seconds at 100*F., said supplemental emollient is said fatty acid diethanolamide in an amount of about 1.5 to 3 percent by weight, and said humectant is glycerine in an amount of about 3 to 6 percent by weight.
 5. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 4 wherein said propellant is CCl2F2 or a mixture of CClF2CClF2 and CCl2F2.
 6. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 4 which further includes from about 0.3 to 3 percent by weight of C12 - C18 fatty acid.
 7. A foaming shaving cream as set Forth in claim 4 wherein said cocoate soap is present in an amount of about 0.2 to 3 percent by weight.
 8. A foaming shaving cream as set forth in claim 5 wherein said mineral oil is present in an amount of about 13 to 17 percent by weight. 